UPenn’s Phi Delta Theta Is Catching Heat For Including A Beyoncé Sex Doll In Christmas Picture

It’s about 40 degrees in Philadelphia right now, but the water is hot for the men of Phi Delta Theta at the University of Pennsylvania.

It started Sunday night when someone posted a Christmas card to the fraternity’s Facebook page. It features the brothers–a few guys are wearing tacky Christmas outfits, some guy is eating a fish, and there’s a ballsy dude wearing a Tony Romo jersey. Oh, and they were joined by a Beyoncé blow-up sex doll.

The brothers claim it was a gag gift from the group’s Secret Santa event, but that didn’t stifle the flames in the least.

Their UPenn classmates quickly discovered the photo and the backlash began. Many different campus advocacy organizations have issued statements on the incident and they are thoroughly pissed.

“Given the larger conversations and actions taking place in the country, there’s never been a worse time to do what they did,” said College senior Keishawn Johnson, president of Penn’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The 5B, a coalition of minority groups on campus, believe the fraternity should face serious repercussions for its actions.

“The inclusion of a racially and sexually charged object in such a flagrant fashion displays a serious and immediate need for repercussions that reflect the severity of this misogynistic, racist offense,” a joint statement issued by the 5B–the five umbrella coalitions for minority groups on campus–and the Penn Consortium for Undergraduate Women said. “We–UMOJA, APSC, UMC, Latin@ Coalition, Lambda Alliance, and PCUW–firmly believe that when an event like this marginalizes one of our communities, it marginalizes us all.”

They further stated their desire to have the fraternity’s rush activities suspended until they reach a certain level of cultural sensitivity training.

In their statements, UMOJA, 5B, and PCUW called for disciplinary action to be taken against the fraternity. UMOJA specifically called for the chapter to be fined and its rush activities to be suspended until “a council of peers deem it acceptable to resume activity after and instituted education process.” Further, the group urged the Office of Student Affairs/Fraternity and Sorority Life to enforce “mandatory cultural competency courses for all members to resume activity…” and for the fraternity’s national organization to be notified.

Phi Delt has issued an apology and claims the decision to include the doll was a bad one, and it should have been avoided.

The draft apology, signed “The Brothers of Phi Delta Theta at the University of Pennsylvania,” said the Beyoncé sex toy was “distasteful” and that “once removed from the packaging, it bore no semblance to the artist beyond skin color adding to its offensive nature.” The apology said “there were absolutely no prejudicial motivations behind the gift,” but acknowledged that “the absence of racial motivation is no justification for this act of poor judgement and the decision not to include a sex toy in a holiday picture should have been an easy one.”

The blowup doll is black. You can’t use anything black without getting permission from the justice brothers (al not so sharpton, and eric weiner holder) and the media. They decide if it’s offensive or not.

Everyone should give these guys a break… There is nothing racist about this, and no guy can resist a little brown sugar 😉 I can’t really say I’m surprised. The sad thing is that any of those guys who were too afraid to speak to black girls nefore or probably traumatized and even more afraid to approach a black girl. They shouldn’t be though, lots of us love white guys.

Side note: that blow up doll is hideous and looks nothing like Beyonce… lol

As a student here, I can say that not only was the doll meant as a gag gift, but also the students here have been searching for everything and anything to protest about. These same students who are saying that this blow-up doll is “racist” and “sexist” are the same ones who entered our President’s home during holiday party (in which she opened up her home to the entire school), had a lie-down for Mike Brown, and verbally attacked her (despite our president joining in the lie-down to show support http://www.thedp.com/article/2014/12/protesters-take-over-gutmanns-holiday-party). In the TFM article, you guys say that students are pissed, but that’s only a few people. Anyone who decides to say anything other than “Phi Delt is racist” on social media is instantly attacked and labeled a racist. I don’t want you to forget that most of Penn thinks this is a bullshit accusation that is based on a few unsubstantiated accusations aimed at these men. (In all actuality, the photo has two – possibly Confederate – generals in the background — which honestly I thought would get more flak)

But what surprises me the most is that at an institution like Penn, several minority groups and general Penn students were quick to label these men racist, sexist pigs before even hearing their account of what happened. And, no one pays attention to the fact that this fraternity has been known to volunteer in the greater Philadelphia area by mentoring students at local schools and encouraging these local students to apply to college in order to better themselves and their current economic conditions.

And before anyone calls me a racist for stating the truth of this situation, just know that I’m black and in a traditional Greek fraternity (so calling me an uncle tom will suffice).

None of us would ever call you an Uncle Tom, but those damn liberals would. If I remember correctly, one congressman a while back called Clarence Thomas an Uncle Tom and nobody said a word about it. Anyways, thank you for being a voice of reason while everyone else is yelling “fire”.

Thanks man. Although, unfortunately for Phi Delt, Penn only has Spring Rush for freshman rushes.. if this isn’t cleared up over winter break (which is unlikely given open rush starts the 14th of January and the university is backed up with other problems on campus), Phi Delt may not be able to participate in formal recruitment, which would screw them over with effects lasting years. And all that because people are overreacting to a blow up doll.

As Whiskey_Tango mentioned, Greek life in/outside Philadelphia is strong and does a lot for their respective communities. And, it’s ironic that something like this will lead to Phi Delt being viewed as racist, but several multicultural houses on our campus (specifically, black and latino fraternities) actively discriminate during parties and rush events (make non-minorities feel unwelcome) but that is never in the news. You can’t have it both ways, in my opinion.

*Also, how the hell is an all-black or all-hispanic fraternity considered “multi”-cultural when there’s only once ethnicity in the house?

I’m a member of a Fraternity in the Greater Philadelphia Area as well, and I can agree that the Greek culture in these parts are quite strong and overall provide a positive impact on the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. It’s bullshit that we donate our time, effort, and sometimes even our own money to improving the community; however, when/if we try to make a funny Christmas picture we become crucified as those “racist white frat boys”. I have personally showed up to underprivileged families homes on Thanksgiving Eve and dropped off enough food to feed their whole family, yet we don’t receive any recognition from these same groups trying to tear us down now. They only try to see the glass half empty. Fuck them.

I opened the article expecting it to be about people making fun of them for being weird enough to have a sex doll in the picture… Clearly I forgot we live in the land of Political Correctness and “triggers”.

I agree. The need to be politically correct in America right now is what makes it “ok” for groups like these to go after these kinds of minuscule problems, if you can even call it a problem. What is even more ridiculous is that they have real influence how these kinds of things are handled, even in small numbers.

In no way am I racist (shouldn’t even have to state that before an opinion, but I digress), but what’s with all the race baiting lately? Like if this were a white sex doll this wouldn’t even have made news

Leftists are the McCarthyists of the 21st century. Honestly, they shouldn’t have apologized. I am sick of people apologizing for having a sense of humor. Eventually someone needs to stand up and say, “This is America, you have no right to not be offended, if you don’t like it, tough shit.”

“The inclusion of a racially and sexually charged object in such a flagrant fashion displays a serious and immediate need for repercussions that reflect the severity of this misogynistic, racist offense”- Are you kidding me? It’s a fucking Christmas card by a fraternity, not some KKK hate letter delivered to this organization’s doorstep. Some people really need to remove the sticks jammed up their asses.

I read the whole article and still think this has to be a troll. There is no way on earth an entire organization could be formed at any University in America and not have one person think “oh, you know what, maybe we should pick our battles based on actual racism and you know, not look like a bunch off idiots in the national news”. And people wonder why so many people have trouble taking racism seriously.

This is fucking insane. Liberals are literally ruining this country everyday. Since when did we start to give so much of a damn about political correctness? And when did people start going so far out of their way to get pissed off about such insignificant things like a christmas card?

What the hell is happening to this country? Racism is never ok, but how in the fuck is this racist or sexist? It’s as if some people actually take time out of their day to find a reason to be offended. Makes me sick….

Why the fuck are these ‘multicultural’ group so sensitive? At my school too, they literally went harassing the president to make a statement about what’s been going on lately. I’m Asian and I love racist jokes. Fuck you if think ‘5 dorrar’ and ‘herro’ isn’t funny

Un-fucking-believable. I’m astounded that these self righteous caps minority groups are so upset. Noone is forcing you to peruse fraternity Christmas photos. At this point, they’re just looking for a way to start trouble. And they wonder why they can’t garner any respect at college campuses.

“The inclusion of a racially and sexually charged object in such a flagrant fashion displays a serious and immediate need for repercussions that reflect the severity of this misogynistic, racist offense”

Easy there killer… Let’s put the dictionary away and talk like people.

A. No one can see Beyonce in this picture.
2. If Beyonce has her own blow up doll, she get royalties from its sale. She’s basically her own mega corporation so if you think that her team of lawyers doesn’t include a $1000 White and Case IP Attorney from MIT who makes sure that she see’s every cent from her blow up doll’s sale, you are wrong. Even more absurd is that more likely than not her camp signs off on the dolls likeness. I had no idea Beyonce even had a blow up doll but I do now, so shes probably selling more than ever.
D. This fraternity has 5 guys of middle of Asian/Middle Eastern Decent (none of which got offended by my inability to arrive at their exact nationalities). If anything this shows the absolute tolerance and lack of racial bias within their chapter.

I hope that Keishawn Johnson remembers that the same first amendment that allows him shove his two cents in about non-issue race relations on campus, is the same one that says a group of multi-cultural frat bros can celebrate their love of Beyonce in a picture if they want to.

I think the actual racists in our society are liberals. Normal people look at look at picture like that and think “that’s a funny picture”, but a liberal thinks only of race of a fucking blow up doll in a spoof Christmas picture. Around this holiday season, if any of y’all have any small cousins please make sure they don’t run into any hard objects head first, we do not need any more liberals.

Can someone explain to me why they’re more upset about a blowup doll that’s a gag gift being racist than they are about the picture of what looks like Robert E. Lee in the back right? If you’re going to make unfounded accusations at least do it right. Damn.

It sounds like no one really cares other than these groups who probably have nothing better to do. Just cause they are making a fuss doesn’t mean this is legitimate. 98% of people are probably fine with it but when 2% yell at the top of their lungs and won’t stop then it makes it seem like a bigger deal than it is.

I find it culturally diverse that someone would want to have a Beyonce doll over a white one.

Stop saying this isn’t racist, you racist pricks! Blah blah blah. What a load of shit. You, yourself, have to be a racist to say someone is oppressing you. Shit, is there a white representative group in all those racial groups?